Episodes
Every conversation, in one place.
Pulled live from our YouTube playlist. 3 episodes and counting.
Hackers are joining your data better than you are
This was a great back to school episode and packed full of favorite data words. We love this little gem about data and making sure you train your people.
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Data Fundamentals Unpacked: Back to School with Favorite Data Words
What are the words every data professional should understand—and what happens when organizations use them without fully understanding what they mean? In this episode of Data Fundamentals Unpacked, Robin Hunt, Gini von Courter, and Bill Shander discuss some of their favorite data words: normalization, correlation, design, documentation, measurement, and data governance. The conversation explores why these concepts matter far beyond their technical definitions. The team discusses how poor design creates downstream problems, why correlation should never be confused with causation, and how documentation helps preserve the thinking behind important decisions. They also examine the continuous need for mindset shifts in data work. That means questioning assumptions, investigating stakeholder requests, measuring what truly matters, and being willing to face what the data reveals—even when the results are uncomfortable. In this episode: • Why normalization is foundational to good database design • When intentionally denormalizing data may be the right decision • Why correlation does not prove causation • How statistical language can create communication gaps • Why documentation is part of professional design • How measurement influences what organizations manage • The role of critical thinking and “useful paranoia” • Why data governance problems are often design problems • The risks of waiting until a security or governance failure occurs • How AI may help us study data that was previously difficult to access Good data work is not simply about using the right tools. It requires thoughtful design, disciplined validation, clear communication, and the willingness to continually reconsider what we think we know. What is your favorite data word—and which data term would you be happy never to hear again? Share it in the comments. Subscribe for more practical conversations about data, analytics, technology, and the decisions that shape our work. #DataFundamentalsUnpacked #DataAnalytics #DataLiteracy #DataGovernance #DatabaseDesign #criticalthinkingmastery Audio: Pancakes - Dylan Sitts #epidemicsound
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Data Fundamentals Unpacked: Stakeholder Whispering with Bill Shander
Data Fundamentals Unpacked: Stakeholder Whispering with Bill Shander This session dives into one of the most critical (and underdeveloped) skills for data professionals and leaders: how to work with stakeholders effectively. Joined by Bill Shander—author of Stakeholder Whispering and LinkedIn Learning instructor—we explore why being an “order taker” limits impact and how shifting to a stakeholder-first mindset leads to better decisions, better outcomes, and healthier team cultures. The conversation focuses on: What a stakeholder really is (hint: it’s everyone) Why stakeholders often don’t know what they need—and how to help them uncover it Moving from reactive, fast thinking to deliberate, critical thinking Applying stakeholder whispering in real-world scenarios, from leadership decisions to everyday project work How this mindset improves communication, trust, and productivity across teams If you work with data, lead teams, or influence decisions, this episode reframes stakeholder engagement as a core professional skill—not a soft add-on.
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